Ruby Walsh's decision to head to Thurles for just one ride on Thursday was worthwhile as Glens Harmony proved too good in the mares' maiden hurdle.
Full sister to Festival winner Glens Melody, classy bumper sort Glens Harmony wins on hurdles debut for Walsh and Mullins at @thurlesraces: pic.twitter.com/bzSE5cXN5S
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 26, 2017
Walsh kept it simple by making his own running on the 4/9 favourite, who was smart in bumpers, and she jumped well in the main.
Tara Dylan was in the process of running an encouraging race when almost unshipping David Mullins at the last, but she hadn't got Glens Harmony out of second gear, and Walsh pushed Willie Mullins' five-year-old out to triumph by four and three-quarter lengths.
She was also Mullins' only runner on the card, and the champion trainer said: "She has been very promising in bumpers and we were hoping that she would transfer that ability to hurdle races, and she looks to have.
"The second horse was a good flat horse and I'd be happy enough with our mare to have as little experience of racing and to come up against the likes of that, and beat them. It looks good and she can only improve from that and we'll keep her to the mares' novice route.
"She was very green and it's hard to make your own running the first day and she made one or two mistakes, but there lots of improvement in her and I'm looking forward to her in the novice mares' ranks."
Barry Geraghty rode a cool race to record a cheeky success on Close Shave in the beginners chase.
Adimelo looked the likely winner when taking the lead off Tyrrell's Succes between the last two fences, with Close Shave behind them and not really making any headway.
Tyrrell's Succes last-fence fall left him in second but it was only then that Geraghty asked the 9/4 chance for maximum effort and he responded well to get up by three-quarters of a length.
Carrig Cathal was sent off the 11/10 favourite but only got as far as the first, where he parted company with Jack Kennedy.
Winning trainer Jessica Harrington said: "He avoided all the trouble and there was a lot of it in the race, and he did it well and stays well.
"He is built for the game and the step up in trip helped, and I'm delighted with him. We'll see where we go with him now."
OVERDUE WIN
Monksland was made to pull out all the stops to land the odds in the He'llberemembered Hurdle.
Now 10, three-time Grade 2 winner Monksland lands the feature He'llberemembered Hurdle at @thurlesraces under @swflanagan7 for @tuvastables: pic.twitter.com/J9olhzIPeB
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 26, 2017
Noel Meade's classy stayer was sent off the 8/11 favourite after finishing third in a charity race at Punchestown last week but Sean Flanagan had to get to work after the fourth-last, with Polar Present going great guns out in front.
Monksland responded to the pressure to touch down over the final flight in a share of the lead, and he eventually stamped his quality for a half-length call.
Meade said: "It was hard work and Sean said he never travelled at all and the ground was a bit quick for him. He has had plenty problems over the years and when the ground is any way good, he was knocking the top off it and needs soft ground to be at his best.
"He is a 10-year-old now and has been around a while, and that is part of it too, but today was the plan. His pedigree is all stamina and he does stay three miles. I don't know where he is going to go and you couldn't say he is the horse he once was, but we'll peg along and try and keep him sound and run him wherever he has a chance.
"I would say at some stage we could try him over fences in one of those big races like the Irish National. There might also be a conditions chase he could run in. We'll see how the season goes along but every race we win with him is a bonus as he hasn't been easy to keep sound."
Flanagan was also seen to good effect as La Bella Vida struck at the second attempt over fences in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase.
Second at Sligo last month, the 11/4 chance slipped through the inside when leading pair Nancys Icon and Magic Of Light collided mid-air over four out, and she kept up the gallop to account for Magic Of Light by a length and a quarter.
Trainer Liz Doyle was full of praise for Flanagan, and said: "It was a beautiful ride. They went too fast and the jockey nipped into the inside at the top of the hill and that probably won it for him.
"For a small mare, she has that bounce over fences and she is as brave as a lion. We'll tip away over fences for the time being.
"She is a pleasure to train and that was the most beautiful ride - the jockey won that, nobody else."
Doyle doubled up when Gran Geste (13/2) made a triumphant introduction in the Munster Flat Race.
Mac Cennetig looked to have pinched the Leugh Handicap Hurdle when going clear between the last two flights, but he began to tread water close and was joined on the line by Marino Marvel and Turasoir, with the latter just getting the verdict at odds of 9/1.
The application of cheekpieces did the trick for Carrigready (14/1), who beat Cher Why Not by four and a half lengths to break his duck in the Premier County Handicap Hurdle.
READ THE FULL THURLES REPORT IN THE IRISH FIELD THIS WEEKEND